Hydraulic winding traverse



Sept. 22, 1959 R PIM ETAL 2,905,403

' HYDRAULIC. WINDING TRAVERSE Filed June 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG-4INVENTOR. RICHARD A. PIM VERNON C. REES ATTORNEYS thereof a combinationof a slow and a fast traverse.

United States Patent HYDRAULIC WINDING TRAVERSE Richard A. Pim,Waterville, Ohio, and Vernon C. Rees, Monroe, Mich., assignors, by mesneassignments, to L.0.F. Glass Fibers Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application lune25, 1954, Serial No. 439,332

1 Claim. (Cl. 242-27) This invention relates to traversing mechanismsand the control of flow in fluid actuated motors, and more particularlyto the control of such motors for use in traverse mechanisms in glassfiber yarn winding apparatus. Still more specifically the inventionrelates to a method of winding glass fiber filaments. 7

It has been found to be desirable in the winding of freshly drawn glassfibers to employ in the windli gg e fast traverse provides the yarn tothe winding tube over a relatively narrow portion of the length thereofand the slow traverse is effective to continuously move the fasttraversing mechanism very slowly across the length of the tube. At thetermination of the slow traverse the fast traversing mechanism isquickly returned to the point of initial winding and in this manner 2,3, 4 or individual yarn layers may be attained on the tube.

In efforts to reduce the yarn breakage factor in the customary windingmethod the amount of yarn applied to a tube was materially limited andit was found that at about a yarn weight of 1 /2 pounds the yarn whenwound inside to outside across the tube handled satisfactorily withoutexcessive breakage. However it has been found that by employing acombination of fast and slow traverse the amount of yarn per tube may besafely increased to four pounds or more. The increase in handlingcapacity is attributed to the formation of the separate layers whichpermit the glass fibers to be removed progressively from the outsidelayer to finally the inside layer rather than from the outside to theinside to the outside and so forth, through the entire depth of thewind. Each layer contains superposed strands but the superposing is suchthat the portions which are superposed are close together and extendonly over a very short length of the glass filaments.

This is in contrast to the usual procedure where it is customary to soprovide the yarn on the tube that every two foot or so the yarn on thetube passes from the innermost position to the outermost. Such proceduregives rise to difiiculties, for reasons not completely understood, atthe twister operation, where a twist is imparted to the yarn, but whichdifficulties are evidenced by excessive yarn breakage and loss ofmaterial.

When employing the procedure above described, on occasion, some breakageand yarn loss may occur, but seldom is more than one layer affected andthus the whole t'iibe does not become scrap as it does when the yarn onthe outer layer passes directly to the interior plies.

It is accordingly a primary objective of this invention to describe anovel method for the winding of glass fibers which method materiallyincreases the capacity of the winding tube.

, It is an important object of this invention to describe a. novelcombination of a slow and fast traverse.

I It is a particular object of the invention to describe a novel controluseful in conjunction with the regulation 'ofthe speed of movement ofthe pistons of hydraulic motors.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus useful in the practice ofthe method of invention; I

Figure 2 is a schematic view partially in section of a fluid actuatedmotor and associated control means including flow restriction coilmeans;

Figure 3 illustrates the fast traverse mechanism;

Figure 4 illustrates the operation of the fast traverse on the glassstrand;

Figure 5 illustrates a tube on which the winding operation is beinginitiated;

Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a portion of the embodiment of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a schematic elevational view of a portion of the apparatusof Figure l; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the package wound by the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings there is indicated at 1 in Figure 1 a glassmelting pot containing molten glass 2 which glass is caused to exude tobe drawn into filaments 3,; the filaments as they are drawn are coatedwith a starch binder suitably applied from a pad where the filaments areformed into a strand 8 as they pass to a tensioning ring 7. Strand 8passes downwardly to a fast traverse mechanism indicated generally at 9,driven by motor 11, and the strand is wound on tube 13 driven by motorapparatus shown generally at 15 (Figure 8).

Referring briefly to Figure 5 the apparatus of invention is effective toapply the strands 8 to the tube 13 in superposed relation progressivelyOver the length of the tube. This is accomplished by a combination offast and slow traverse, the fast traverse feeding a continuous strand 8to a limited portion of the tube length as shown at 8 and 8", and theslow traverse being effective to occasion the progressive movement ofthe fast traverse mechanism with respect to the tube until the wholetube is covered.

To fill the tube completely in production operations the slow traversemay make as many as 4 or 5 traverses of the tube length and eachcomplete slow traverse results in the application of what is hereintermed as a single layer. Accordingly in any given layer the strandswill be superposed; but in removal from the tube for spinning the layerswill be separately removed and should difliculty arise with any givenlayer the others are still useful production wise. Further, lessdifiiculty arises with this method of winding, there being much lesstendency towards breakage and binder adherence, anadvantage which isparticularly noted when the tubes are stored for any length of timebefore unwinding takes place.

Referringagain to Figure 1 motive apparatus 15 includes an electricmotor 16 provided with a pulley 17 about which belt 18 passes to drivethrough a pulley 19 in the motor control box 20 and shaft 22 to whichthe tube 13 is secured. The motor control box 20 is mounted on housing21 and regulates the starting, stopping and speed of the drivingmechanism of the tube.

Also supported on housing 21, or otherwise suitably mounted, is acylinder 23 which incorporates the principal components of the slowtraverse mechanism described more particularly hereinafter. Rightwardly(Figure '2) a piston rod 25' extends from the cylinder 23and uponactuation of the slow traverse mechanism this piston rod moves slowlyleftwardly (Figure 1) and at the completion of a traverse the piston rodmoves rapidly rightward-ly.

Mounted at the end of the piston rod 25 for movement therewith is anarrangement indicated at 26 for causing movement of the fast traversemechanism leftwardly (Figure 1) with the slow traverse. Thus secured tothe end of piston rod 25 is a grooved element 27 which re- .ceives a rod28 secured to a link- 29 which is fixedly .fastened to one of two arms31, 33 of a frame indicated generally at 35. The rod 28 is restrainedagainst longitudinal movement with respect to piston 25.

The arms 31, 33 are secured to fixed collars 45 of shaft 37 which shaftis journaled in rigid members 39, 41, .secured to a fixed structuralelement 43. The arms are restrained from lateral movement on the shaftby collars 45 secured to the shaft by a set screw, but the arms are freeto rotate with the shaft.

The arm 31 at the lower end thereof is secured to link .29; also mountedon the arm 31 is a guide 47 having projecting elements 49, 51 throughwhich the strand :8 passes in its course to the tube 13.

A link 53 is pivotally secured to the arm 31 and a ver tically extendingrigid member 55 is secured to the other end of the link. The rigidmember is itself pivotally supported at the lower end thereof on a link57 which is secured to the housing 21. Rod 56 secured to the upper endof member 55 supports tension ring 7 and the latter moves with themember to maintain tension on strand 8.

Fixedly mounted between the arms 31, 33 is the motor 11 of the fasttraversing mechanism and accordingly the motor moves in a slight arcwith the arms when the same are motivated by the slow traversemechanism. The rotatable shaft 53 of motor 11 has affixed to its outerend a fast traverse device which comprises a cylinder 59 the outer endof which as shown (Figure 3) is .provided with cone-like projections orfingers 61 formed .integral with the cylinder. The strand passingthrough the spacing of the cone-like projections slides thereon and iscaused to be formed into substantially the shape shown at 62 in Figure 4as it passes to the tube 13.

It is to be noted that the binder which is applied to the glassfilaments serves both as a lubricant and a binding .agent and may varyin constitution but substantially all binders are of such a nature thata certain amount of the material, due to the high attenuating speedsutilized in filament formation, is caused to deposit on equipmentsurrounding the drawing or attenuating mechanism. This would requireconstant cleaning which is expensive or elaborate guards which areusually somewhat ineffective in order to prevent a gumming of the binderand fouling of the equipment. The suspension of the motor 11 as shown inFigure l alleviates this problem.

Referring now to Figure 2 the construction of the slow traversemechanism is shown in detail therein. The cylinder 23 as shown isprovided interiorily with chambers 63, 65 and each houses a pistonindicated at 67 and 69, respectively; the pistons are secured to theinternal extension 2-5 of piston rod 25 and serve in actuation of thesame. The piston rod extension 25' is suitably threaded to receive nuts70 which retain the pistons in position on the rod.

Chamber 63 is provided with ports 71, 72 through which air underpressure may be selectively passed to drive piston 67 in reciprocation.The air flow to the chamber 63 is controlled by a solenoid actuatedvalve indicated generally at 73 in a known manner, the chamber 63 beingprovided in any suitable manner, as internally -thereof with a switch 74actuable on contact with the end of piston rod 25 therewith to changethe direction of .current flow in the solenoid 75 and control theposition of the piston rod 76 and pistons in the solenoid valve. Asshown in Figure 2 air under pressure is starting to flow into the righthand end of chamber 63 to start the slow traverse operation.

The chamber 65 and coil 77 secured thereto through conduits 78, 79 arefilled with oil and accordingly piston 69 moves through oil when piston67 moves under the influence of the air pressure. The oil (Figure 2) isforced ,by the leftward movement of the piston through a filter aaco-5,403

76' and coil 77 to the right hand end of the chamber;

conduit 80 is a by-pass and contains a check valve 81 which prohibitsoil movement through conduit 80 in leftward movement (Figure 2) of thepiston 69 but permits flow therethrough in the rightward movement ofpiston 69. e

The oil passes only very slowly through coil 77 and accordingly leftwardmovement of piston 69, 'and also piston 67 is restricted thereby. Thusthe piston rod 25 may be made to move very slowly in the leftward direction to provide the slow traverse. This arrangement is extremelyflexible as the turns of coil 77 and the diameter of the conduitconstituting the coil as well as the oil may be such as to provide anextremely slow traversein practice a cylinder having a piston traverseof three inches per minute may be suitably restricted to a traverse ofone-third of an inch per minute by employing the arrangement describedin Figure 2.

Upon completion of the slow traverse the switch 74 is actuated toreverse the direction of air flow to chamber :63 and piston 67 (Figure2) then moves rightwardly; the

confined oil of chamber 65 then flows relatively rapidly from the rightto the left hand end, the by-pass conduit 80 being effective now topermit oil movement therethrough. This fast return may be accomplishedin a matter of seconds by simply providing a suitable by-pass 80.

To prevent gumming of binder on the exposed piston rod 25 a bellows 82surrounding the same and supported from cylinder 23 and element 27 isprovided; an opening 83 permits free air-flow as the bellows expand andcontracts.

In the operation of the arrangement shown in Figures 1-5, inclusive, themolten glass 2 as it exudes is coated preferably with a starch-oilbinder at pad 5 and individual filaments are drawn together at pad 5;the formed strand of filaments then passes to tension ring 7 which pullsthe strand toward the apex of the fast traverse while the rotatingfingers thereof urge the strand outwardly.

In practice the inherent movement occasioned by the fast traverse may beabout 2 /4 inches along the length of tube 13 which may itself be about6 inches long and 8 inches in diameter; with a slow traverse speed ofapproximately /3 of an inch per minute it will take' 10 to 11 minutesfor completion of the slow traverse to cover the tube with one layer ofglass strand.

At the completion of the first layer the slow traverse mechanism isreversed and quickly returns, that is in a matter of seconds, to thestarting point and accordingly the second layer is built over the firstlayer in exactly the same manner without causing any break in themovement of the yarn.

In each layer then the strands fed to the tube are caused by the fasttraverse to cover a length, for example, of 2% inches, the fast traversecausing a reciprocating feed motion, accounting for the superpositioningin the layer; however, all superpositioned strands of a layer are closetogether along the strand length due to the fact that the throw of thefast traverse covers only a portion of the tube length at eachreciprocation of the fast traverse.

As a specific example, set out by way of illustration and not oflimitation, the tube 13 may rotate at about 4950 rpm. and the fasttraverse member at an r.p.m. of 900, the diameter of the tube beingabout 8 inches, and in this case the first complete layer will weighabout 1% pounds and may have, for example, a length of 35,000 yards.

The mechanism and method of invention thus set forth provide amaterially improved tube of yarn from which it has been found inpractice the strands may be removed for spinning without the occurrenceof material breakage.

As shown in Figure 6 in elevational view and in Figure 7 in plan viewthere is indicated generally at 85 a frame to which the fast traversemotor 86 is secured by arm or crosshead 87. The crosshead 87 is fixedlysecured by collars as at 88 to longitudinally movable opposed shafts 89,90; the shafts are also provided with a rearward crosshead 91 retainedon the shaft by collars as at 92.

Also as shown in Figure 6 a vertically extending support member 93 isfixedly secured by bolts to a housing 94 for support of the housing;similarly as shown in Figure 7 a housing 95 through which the shaft 89passes is secured on support 93. Each of the housings 94, 95 containball bushings 96 and through which the shafts 89,

90, respectively, sliding pass. In each housing a bushing holderindicated at 97, 98 retains the ball bushings in position, and thisstructural arrangement provides a firm support for the motor 86 and theequipment associated with the frame 85.

Secured to the housing 94 and extending 'leftwardly in Figure 6 is abellows 99 the leftward end of which is affixed to the collar 88, thebellows being contractable and expandible with movement of the shaft 90and being provided with an opening indicated at 101 for free passage ofair. Rightwardly in Figure 6 the housing 94 has secured thereto a secondbellows 102 which extends rightwardly and is retained by the collar 92.The bellows serve to protect the shaft from exposure to binder materialand as indicated in Figure 7 the shaft 89 is protected by bellows 103and 104 in a similar manner.

The frame 85 has extending upwardly from arm 105 a rod 106 whichadjustably supports the tensioning ring 107; arm 105 also has securedthereto rod 108 from which there extends over the fast traverse device109 strand guide 110.

Fixedly secured to the rearward crosshead 91 by nut 111 is a shaft 112threaded at its end to receive the nut 111. Secured to the shaft 112 andextending downwardly therefrom is a cross arm (Figure 6) 114 which isfixedly retained on piston rod .115 by nut 116. This piston rod extendsfrom a cylinder 117 which is similar to that described in connectionwith Figure 1 and is operable to drive the piston slowly rightwardly(Figure 6) and more quickly leftwardly, the coil 77 being provided toretain the slow traverse of the piston 115' in a manner precisely as setforth in connection with Figure 1.

In the operation of the device of Figures 6 and 7 the fast traversemotor and the associated mechanism are moved slowly rightwardly (Figure6) by the connection 6 of the cross arm 1 14, the shaft 112 and thecross arm 91. Support for thefast traverse assembly is attained throughthe shafts 89, 90, which as already noted are movable through thehousings 94, 95. The operation of the structure of Figures 6 and 7 isotherwise similar to that described in connection with Figures 1-5,inelusive.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adopt it to different usages and conditions and accordinglyit is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention asmay fall within the scope of the appended claim.

We claim:

In combination in a winding and traversing mechanism for glassfilaments, a tube on which the filaments are to be wound, fast traversemeans to supply the filaments to the tube over a portion of the lengththereof, slow traverse means operable to move the fast UEUVCISC acrossthe face of the tube, said slow traverse means comprising a fluidoperated motor having a piston rod, means securing the piston rod to thefast tra'verse means, and means to slide the fast traverse means inresponse to movement of the piston rod, the said fluid operated motorhaving fluid flow resistance means for limiting motor fluid flow and themotor and fast traverse means speed in one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS897,676 Thompson Sept. 1, 1908 1,028,609 Ryden June 4, 1912 1,178,045Adsit Apr. 4, 1916 1,970,897 Parks Aug. 21, 1934 1,998,873 KingsburyApr. 23, 1935 2,205,385 Abbott June 25, 1940 2,301,712 Seem et al. Nov.10, 1942 2,301,713 Seem et a1. Nov. 10, 1942 2,326,307 Peterson Aug. 10,1943 2,603,424 Rawson July 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,902 Great BritainDec. 16, 1891 23,171 Great Britain Oct. 23, 1902 495,618 Great BritainNov. 16, 1938 362,509 Germany Oct. 28, 1922 496,024 Belgium Sept. 16,1950

